By Tom McClimon and Jay Dick, Americans for the Arts
July 14, 2008

For the eleventh consecutive year, Americans for the Arts and The United States Conference of Mayors presented the National Awards for Public Leadership in the Arts to local, state, and entertainment leaders. The 2008 awards were presented on June 23.

The 2008 winners were: National Award for Local Arts Leadership-Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, National Awards for State Arts Leadership-Missouri Governor Matt Blunt, National Award for Lifetime Achievement-Gloria Estefan and National Award for Lifetime Achievement-Emilio Estefan, Jr.

Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann, Chair of the Tourism, Arts, Parks, Entertainment and Sports Committee, moderated the awards presentations." The arts define the soul and essence of a city," stated Hannemann in opening the session. Nina Ozlu Tunceli, Chief Counsel for Americans for the Arts, thanked the mayors for their continued support of the arts. She showed two new PSA ads on promoting arts education for children. Conference CEO and Executive Director Tom Cochran recognized the mayors and Americans for the Arts for their leadership in supporting the arts.

Goodman was honored with the 2008 National Award for Local Arts Leadership. Goodman has been a lifelong supporter of the arts that was instilled upon him early in life by his mother, a painter. The mayor has long viewed the arts as a mechanism for downtown revitalization. Goodman brought forth a city percent for the arts ordinance to where today, one percent of the city’s capital construction budget is spent on the arts. He has also been a consistent supporter of the Las Vegas Neon Museum and local arts festivals and businesses. "The arts are helping to inspire Las Vegas to the next level," stated Goodman in accepting the National Local Arts Leadership Award.

State Arts Leadership: Missouri Governor Matt Blunt

When Blunt took office in January 2005, the state ranked 49th among the states in per capita funding for the arts. Under the Governor’s leadership, the state now ranks 14th. State support of the arts has increased 700 percent under the Governor’s leadership. In his first term in office, over 1,750 grants totaling over $15 million have been awarded to nonprofit arts and cultural organizations throughout the state. "A strong cultural infrastructure is important to a state’s economy," stated Blunt in accepting the State Arts Leadership Award.

Introduced by Miami Mayor Manny Diaz as "Miami’s Best," Gloria Estefan is among the top 100 best'selling music artists of all times with over 90 million albums sold worldwide. With five Grammy awards and several number one hits, she is the most successful crossover performer in Latin music to date. She is heavily involved in charitable endeavors including the Gloria Estefan Foundation that supports programs for disadvantaged children, and helps to empower young people through education and opportunity. Estefan has received a number of awards for her work including the American Music Award for Lifetime Achievement, The Ellis Island Congressional Medal of Honor and the National Music Foundation’s Humanitarian of the Year award. In accepting the Lifetime Achievement Award, Estefan stated, "The most important thing to do for children is to give them the arts."

Introduced by Diaz as "someone who opens the door for Latin musicians," Emilio Estefan, Jr. first taste of celebrity came as a member of the Miami Sound Machine, but he is better known as the individual who helped Latin music crossover into the mainstream thus starting a cultural musical movement. Winner of five Grammy Awards, Estefan is known for helping to expose Spanish-language sounds beyond Latino markets. In addition to introducing a new style of music, he is an accomplished producer of many events and performers. Estefan has also be honored with an American Music Award, a Hispanic Heritage Award and his been inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He is the director and producer of a new documentary "90 Millas" that features musicians and artists such as Gloria Estefan, Carlos Santana, Arturo Sandoval, and Andy Garcia in documenting the history of Cuban-American music. In accepting his Lifetime Achievement Award, Estefan noted his love of Miami and his mayor who share the same values in love of country and music.

pting his Lifetime Achievement Award, Estefan noted his love of Miami and his mayor who share the same values in love of country and music.